Is Greece losing its charm?

[jimbaerselman]

Unless I've been misinformed, the price of a standard loaf of bread is fixed by the Greek government at €1. There's a few other staple food items that have fixed costs, such as a regular coffee and a basic sandwich. Even Athens airport have to provide these items for the official price, which you can often find at the back of the menu, well hidden away.

If a bakery is charging you more than €1 for a regular loaf, they're breaking the law.

But then, it's not like Greeks are particularly shy to breaking the law.

I think you'll find official prices died a while back. If it's advertised on the llist, that's what they can charge.

My loaf cost 80c this morning, but I'm on the mainland.

Unfortunately, I'm €300.80 down this morning, since some sneak thief snuck into my bedroom some time after the semi-final (while I was snoring away), removed my clothes, took out wallet, removed €300, left everything else behind on the ground outside the window he'd climbed in through. Did the same to two other nearby rooms, all with people asleep in them!

Now that's what I call a rip-off.

 

[stranded]

so they should? why?

Because I am a local and I get cheaper beer!

 

[charles_reed]

Was the price drop in tavernas not due to the dropping of the tax on restaurant food of last year? Agree with the rest.

My impression too - I had a fantastic pizza, 50cl red and a watermelon for €10 in Karlovasi, only 16% VAT on the food.

 

[charles_reed]

Do I understand it right , that you would be happy to go into a pub in England and paid 50 p more for a pint of beer then the guy next to you ?
Three couples six pints , three pound more , if so you must have a lot more money then I have .

I wouldn't say I was grumpy at all , just won't be ripped off by Greeks or any one else .
Little story , to or three years ago I needed a gearbox for the outboard , one Honda dealer say he could order me one but i will have to wait three weeks but he had a second hand one I could have at the same price as a new one , no thank you .
A well known second hand marine place in Nidri , I think most of us know who I mean , need a new end to my pole , found one there , the price she wanted was more then a new one , when I told her she said I could have it for 15 euros cheaper , after I paid and sated to walk away I sew another one , in better condition , it was priced up 9 euros less then I just payed , when I pointed that out to her she told me that's been on the self a lot longer , ok I said I have that one , she wasn't happy .
One last example , the guy in the fuel tanker that some how can get almost 11.5 lts of fuel in a 10lts can . Best example of all .
So maybe some of us have good reason to complain .
I think the really problem lies with people who come out for a few weeks or month , throw there money around liKe no tomorrow and some and I say some Greeks are expecting everyone to do the same .
Some of us have worked hard to save to be able to live this life , we have a budget which we have to keep to , if we want to carry on , other go off cruising for just some weeks then return back to earn more money and some just come out for a week or two to charter , for the last two type of sailor 50 cent here and there isn't a problem , for everyone else it can be .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com

It sounds Vic, like you're a rather careless shopper and need some tuition in negotiating.

 

[Davy_S]

Sorry to butt in here, not a liveaboard but a live here. Cardo is quite correct about the price of bread (in a bakery) the prices are still displayed, a bit like cigarettes, the prices are fixed, call it a Cartel whatever, if they charge you more for bread or cigs they are BREAKING the law! end of. (Tavernas are different)

 

[charles_reed]

I think you'll find official prices died a while back. If it's advertised on the llist, that's what they can charge.

My loaf cost 80c this morning, but I'm on the mainland.

Unfortunately, I'm €300.80 down this morning, since some sneak thief snuck into my bedroom some time after the semi-final (while I was snoring away), removed my clothes, took out wallet, removed €300, left everything else behind on the ground outside the window he'd climbed in through. Did the same to two other nearby rooms, all with people asleep in them!

Now that's what I call a rip-off.

Commiserations, Jim.
Unusual in Greece which, I reckon, has the lowest level of petty theft of any country in Europe.

PS It's seldom I have as much as €300 at any one time!!

 

[sailaboutvic]

It sounds Vic, like you're a rather careless shopper and need some tuition in negotiating.

You may be right Charles
But let go back a few steps the Honda dealer lost out end up with FYC sending me a second hand one across Greece thanks again FYC .
Nidri marina , when ever I go there again I always now ask twice about her prices and then bargain with her and as far as fuel truck go , since that day I always are them to fill a can up first to check how much there gauge says before letting them fill the tank . So I am learning , see you can teach an old dog new tricks .

Bread ... A normal size loft is at a set price but they can sell it cheaper if they like , the bakery told. Me that last year .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com

 

[Steve C Cronin]

You may be right Charles
But let go back a few steps the Honda dealer lost out end up with FYC sending me a second hand one across Greece thanks again FYC .
Nidri marina , when ever I go there again I always now ask twice about her prices and then bargain with her and as far as fuel truck go , since that day I always are them to fill a can up first to check how much there gauge says before letting them fill the tank . So I am learning , see you can teach an old dog new tricks .

Bread ... A normal size loft is at a set price but they can sell it cheaper if they like , the bakery told. Me that last year .

www.bluewatersailorcroatia.webs.com

Well, Yes. If the owner wishes to give an old "Herete"* a discount, in consideration of her lifelong patronage, who are we to complain? He is probably trying to tell us this by saying "She is (or, more likely, "it is the WAY of the") Greek" anyway, however, his limited English (not as bad as my limited Greek!) prevents him being as erudite as he would wish. (There is an accent over the second "e" BTW)



*We use the term "Herete" to describe the sort of senior citizen who commands this form of very respectful "Hello" greeting, for that is what it means - you don't use it to teenagers in jeans, for example but you should always use it to those wonderful, little old ladies in their black widows' weeds!

 

[TonyMS]

We just arrived here (Ionian) 4 weeks ago, after 3 years in the Balearics, Sardinia and Corsica.

Seems to us that the people are friendly and honest; there is always somewhere to anchor for free, and usually space on the harbour wall; food in shops and restaurants is good and cheap; you do get free bread and olives, and often a free desert as well; and the charters provide revenue to keep the whole thing afloat, and are often good company as well.

So, maybe it was even better in the old days, but it's great today.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

We just arrived here (Ionian) 4 weeks ago, after 3 years in the Balearics, Sardinia and Corsica.

Seems to us that the people are friendly and honest; there is always somewhere to anchor for free, and usually space on the harbour wall; food in shops and restaurants is good and cheap; you do get free bread and olives, and often a free desert as well; and the charters provide revenue to keep the whole thing afloat, and are often good company as well.

So, maybe it was even better in the old days, but it's great today.

You should compare notes with our boat guardians! They came to Corfu from Majorca ten years ago, sold their boat and have spent the interim buying land and building a house on the island. It has a lot to offer.

 

[Steve C Cronin]

I think you'll find official prices died a while back. If it's advertised on the llist, that's what they can charge.

My loaf cost 80c this morning, but I'm on the mainland.

Unfortunately, I'm €300.80 down this morning, since some sneak thief snuck into my bedroom some time after the semi-final (while I was snoring away), removed my clothes, took out wallet, removed €300, left everything else behind on the ground outside the window he'd climbed in through. Did the same to two other nearby rooms, all with people asleep in them!

Now that's what I call a rip-off.

Doubt it was a Greek. Bad luck.

 

[jimbaerselman]

Doubt it was a Greek. Bad luck.

Spent time with police. About 10 to 15 events per night over last two weeks. Very polished operators, work in pairs, probably 5 pairs working beach resort accommodation within 10km of Methoni. Arriving and leave area by motor bike. One goes inside house and passes handbags, loose wallets, bags, trousers with pockets to outside operator. If he wakes anyone while stripping a room (and most rooms have been occupied, between 0300 and 0600 am), he bails out immediately. The other man strips cash only from the loot. No other traceable valuables taken (cameras, ipads, mobiles, portable computers, jewellery, watches) even though these are lying around. No finger prints.

This happened on a small scale over a week last year. It's thought that having identified a lucrative market, the modus operandum was poshed up for a larger scale operation this year.

Conclusions, (1) a professional gang of outsiders. (2) probably only a mainland phenomenon (difficult get-away from islands!)

Indeed, is Greece losing its charm? Locals are now closing their windows and locking doors at night - if they can find the keys . . .

 

[Steve C Cronin]

Spent time with police. About 10 to 15 events per night over last two weeks. Very polished operators, work in pairs, probably 5 pairs working beach resort accommodation within 10km of Methoni. Arriving and leave area by motor bike. One goes inside house and passes handbags, loose wallets, bags, trousers with pockets to outside operator. If he wakes anyone while stripping a room (and most rooms have been occupied, between 0300 and 0600 am), he bails out immediately. The other man strips cash only from the loot. No other traceable valuables taken (cameras, ipads, mobiles, portable computers, jewellery, watches) even though these are lying around. No finger prints.

This happened on a small scale over a week last year. It's thought that having identified a lucrative market, the modus operandum was poshed up for a larger scale operation this year.

Conclusions, (1) a professional gang of outsiders. (2) probably only a mainland phenomenon (difficult get-away from islands!)

Indeed, is Greece losing its charm? Locals are now closing their windows and locking doors at night - if they can find the keys . . .

Same M O as was used around Parga a few years back, the motorbikes especially. They were Albanians.

 

[nimbusgb]

A business opportunity for a local to start producing South African style burglar bars?

 

[grumpygit]

Was the price drop in tavernas not due to the dropping of the tax on restaurant food of last year? Agree with the rest.

Well one would expect so, but on your favourite Aigina most did not alter their prices. They just used it to increase their profits. Surprised??

 

[grumpygit]

This happened on a small scale over a week last year. It's thought that having identified a lucrative market, the modus operandum was poshed up for a larger scale operation this year.

Conclusions, (1) a professional gang of outsiders. (2) probably only a mainland phenomenon (difficult get-away from islands!)

Indeed, is Greece losing its charm? Locals are now closing their windows and locking doors at night - if they can find the keys . . .

What a bummer for you Jim, and also for the rest of the victims. I also very much doubt it would be the Greeks involved in such a crime.

Your question, is Greece losing its charm? . . . . I doubt it, you'll be just smarting for a while

 

[Cariadco]

Oh yeah....?

Now we understand the reason for vic's condemnation of the Greek nation. Being ripped off by 50 cents is no small matter! Suggest people get real, it's the same the world over. It has been well known throughout my lifetime that if ordering chips in Caernarfon in Welsh you paid less than if you ordered in English.

Rubbish, sound's to me like the old story of the Post Office/Pub/Garage/Shop etc etc that everyone switches to Welsh when a stranger walks in.........Mind you, not many speak Welsh in Caernarfon, and those who do, you've no chance of understanding them.......Well, us from Port' can't...

 

[Mad Pad]

Was talking to a guy last night who had just come back from Ireland where he had visited a small shop where,when he walked in,the people were talking in Irish,but switched to English out of politeness.
Seems different in Wales!!

 

[Cariadco]

Was talking to a guy last night who had just come back from Ireland where he had visited a small shop where,when he walked in,the people were talking in Irish,but switched to English out of politeness.
Seems different in Wales!!

..and you believed him???

 

[vyv_cox]

Rubbish, sound's to me like the old story of the Post Office/Pub/Garage/Shop etc etc that everyone switches to Welsh when a stranger walks in.........Mind you, not many speak Welsh in Caernarfon, and those who do, you've no chance of understanding them.......Well, us from Port' can't...

Not rubbish at all. I have many Welsh speaking friends who confirm that this was the case. Maybe no more when all the prices are posted on the wall but definitely used to be. Same in Bethesda.